I recently went to a funeral of a precious lady, who had been one of my mom’s dearest friends for years. If you could call a funeral service joyful, well…that was one to be called joyful.  Actually, let’s not call it a funeral, yet a Celebration of Life. I walked away inspired, challenged, and full of hope, love, and joy. One of the pastors, Tommy Warnock (whom I’ve often told him he’s not allowed to die until I do because he has to speak at my celebration of life…unless Jesus comes first) was on a roll.  Tommy is one to always share fun and memorable moments, but this time…it was like a comedy club. It was a testament to his storytelling ability, but more so to the fun life that Mrs. Pat led. Mrs. Pat’s service was my kind of service. They even sang one of the upbeat songs I sing all the time and have requested it be sung at my funeral, “I’ll Fly Away”.  When they began playing, I leaned over and told my mom that is one of the songs I’ve requested to be played at my service. She told me the same for her and that it was my grandma Hunter’s favorite song. Sweet! Grandma always said I was going to be just like her, all because she walked me around the outside of her house when I was ten months old. Between the laughter, there were many tears shed as well as I thought back to my family’s recent loss, and different changes in life for loved ones who were sitting on either sides of me. I still walked away from that service with a smile on my face, because Mrs. Pat always had an infectious smile on her face to share with all.

After the service I drove my car to the dealership to get my tire serviced.  The low pressure light for my tire had come on that morning, and I had heard, but not seen, a flapping noise the day before.  Sure enough, there was a screw in my tire, but also a chunk of it was gauged open where I had apparently hit a curb at some point. (That’s the photo above.) Who knows, but I am a threat to hit a curb.  Parallel parking is not my friend, and I try to get as close to the curb as possible to make sure I’m off the brick streets downtown. Hence…a bump every now and then between the curb and my tire.

We decided to put the spare tire on until the new tire arrived the following morning.  All was good, and I was off to meet my husband for a meeting. I wasn’t a mile down the road (okay, it was exactly one mile), when…I have no clue…did I hit something in the road or when I was getting into the left lane did my tire hit another curb?!  Oh my! Not another curb. I pulled over (between two other tire dealerships) and called Tim and the dealership that I had just left moments ago. The gentleman laughed at me in disbelief and was like, “I told you we should have ordered two tires.” Bless. While waiting on the tow truck, I was on the phone with a friend.  I retold the story and was cracking up the whole time. She and her husband laughed right along with me. I don’t think Tim was laughing so much though. Purchasing two tires in one day is not how my financial advisor husband planned on spending his money that afternoon.

Y’all tragedy and unexpected events happen in life.  We can freak out and sulk, or laugh at it and get things taken care of.  Now, laughing at the tire is in no way a comparison to what happened to end Mrs. Pat’s life. Yet her life itself, remembering the good times, envisioning her contagious smile and laughter, is cause to put a smile on one’s face.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”. James 1:2

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. Job 8:21

Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie

Mrs. Pat and her man…dancing and laughing the night away.

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